Health: Yoga For Fertility

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Infertility is a heartbreaking struggle for more than seven million women. 3 On Your Side Health Reporter Stephanie Stahl has more on some new age kind of help.

Many couples who can’t have a baby, often turn to fertility doctors. But things like IVF can be expensive and invasive. Simply reducing stress can help. And now there are a growing number of special classes for infertility.

“It just created a lot of anxiety, and it was building up and building up and building up, and I didn’t really know how to deal with it,” said Lori.

Yoga for fertility classes have exploded in popularity, both with women who are just starting their journey and those who have been undergoing treatments, such as IVF.

“We found that women were really looking for a place to come where they not only could exercise their physical body, but they could come to a place where they would feel support,” said Tami Quinn, a yoga Instructor.

Experts say fertility struggles can take a toll emotionally, physically and financially.

Lori says yoga for fertility helped her channel positive energy.

“It taught me how to relax. It taught me how to let go,” said Lori.

One fertility yoga center says 75 percent of women reported a pregnancy within six months. While yoga itself is known to reduce stress, Dr. Samantha Pfeifer with the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and a Fertility Specialist at Penn, says there are no conclusive studies linking stress and fertility.

“It is known to improve physical endurance. It is known to promote health, from an exercise point of view.” said Dr. Pfeifer.

“We don’t guarantee that every single woman that leaves here is going to leave with a baby, but we’re pretty confident that you’re going to feel happier. You’re going to feel healthy,” said Tami.

It worked for Lori. She’s now the mother of a baby boy, and she believes yoga played a role.

“It’s really indescribable how you feel when you come to the end of a journey like the one that I have had,” said Lori.

There are a variety of yoga for fertility classes around the Philadelphia area, but it’s important to check with your doctor first.